I was deeply inspired to become an outreach teacher for, what was then, Yoga for Youth At-Risk, in the Fall of 2007. I made a decision to allow my heart to lead my life, and found myself in Ottawa after a year and a half living at Yasodhara Ashram, where I was trained in Radha Yoga.

Several weeks into my outreach work I was already coming up against personality aspects that seemed to follow me from the Ashram I had just left. Was I offering enough classes? How many kids could I get to come to a homeless shelter yoga class, and, when they didn’t come, what did that say about me? Looking to exceed limitation, I constantly set the bar higher than I could reach it, and sometimes lost myself in my self-expectant mission to “change the world.” This after a year and a half at an ashram! A kinder way of describing this would be to say that I am sensitive to others’ needs, and I am challenged by saying no to them. What a perfect job to explore the balance between self-care and service to others – learning about the balance between inner and outer compassion so that I can offer the teachings of yoga from a place of knowing.
Janet Gaston, then director of the Ottawa Radha Yoga Centre, returned to Yasodhara Ashram in December of 2007. Offering an outreach program through an often empty Centre that winter, I felt overwhelmed by a sense of isolation. It seemed sad for the outreach program to end, when so many hands had offered selflessly over the last years to build the program into what it is today.
In the spring of 2008, I proposed a change in role for myself to Program Coordinator while we expanded the program and hired on another Outreach Coordinator. Not only did these plans go through, the outreach program has evolved incredibly this program year. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, 6 part-time outreach teachers materialized, up from two (Amanda Jahnke and myself) just last year.
We are now a team of 7 part-time Radha outreach teachers, offering three unique services through 25 youth agency partners in the Ottawa area. Many hands make Light work. Our vision – and dedication – to bring the teachings and benefits of yoga to youth facing challenges is inspirational, brave, heart-warming, and fierce (try living in Ottawa during a two month bus strike over the winter and you’ll get my meaning).
We are ending our outreach program this year on a high note. A group of incredible friends, the Radha Yoga Youth Outreach (RYYO) team is hosting our first ever Yoga-thon in Ottawa June 6th-7th. Serving as both a fundraiser and a means of bringing the Ottawa Yoga community together, 8 yoga studios and centres in Ottawa have said yes to participating in this event. Raising much needed funds, our first ever Yoga-thon came about in part from the news that, due to current economic climate, RYYO would not be receiving a crucial grant for the 09/10 program year. In the true spirit of yoga, we’re inspiring the Ottawa community to come together and serve a greater cause one class at a time – just like our outreach teaching with RYYO.

Jessica Earle-Meadows